Ice Pond Cooling System for Power Plants

Abstract

A feasibility analysis of the engineering and economical possibilities of utilizing ice melting in mid-latitudes to cool power plant condenser effluent was evaluated. In order to designate specific design criteria, the ice pond cooling scheme was theoretically applied to a 1000 MW nuclear power plant requiring a constant condenser cooling water flow of 1337 cfs. Ice could be produced by spraying the condenser water in the winter season and two different models for the ice melting scheme were analyzed. Results of the analyses indicates that the ice required for year-round cooling can be readily produced in northern Pennsylvania. Using cooling water at 40°F causes noticeable effects by the lowering of the turbine backpressure and the lowering of the condensate temperature. The results of a heat balance indicated that the net cycle efficiency could increase from 34.1% to 35%. This increase, when applied to a 1000 MW unit, results in a more productive, 1039 NW, year-round output.